00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 33                                                                          
01 "An Act adding definitions of 'gravity knife' and 'switchblade' to the criminal law; and                                
02 relating to reserving the authority to regulate knives to the state with limited exceptions                             
03 for municipalities to regulate knives."                                                                                 
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1. AS 11.81.900(b) is amended by adding new paragraphs to read:                                          
06                 (65)  "gravity knife" means any knife that has a blade that opens or                                    
07       releases a blade from its handle or sheath by the force of gravity or by the application                          
08       of centrifugal force; "gravity knife" does not include a knife that has a spring, detent,                         
09       or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward closure that requires a person to                             
10       apply exertion to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome the bias toward closure                            
11       and open or release the blade;                                                                                    
12                 (66)  "switchblade" means any knife that has a blade that folds, closes,                                
13       or retracts into the handle or sheath that opens automatically by pressure applied to a                           
14       button or other device located on the handle or sheath; "switchblade" does not include                            

01       a knife that has a spring, detent, or other mechanism designed to create a bias toward                            
02       closure that requires exertion applied to the blade by hand, wrist, or arm to overcome                            
03       the bias toward closure and open the blade.                                                                       
04    * Sec. 2. AS 29.10.200(40) is amended to read:                                                                     
05                 (40)  AS 29.35.145 (regulation of firearms and knives);                                             
06    * Sec. 3. AS 29.35.145(a) is amended to read:                                                                      
07            (a)  The authority to regulate firearms and knives is reserved to the state, and,                        
08       except as specifically provided by statute, a municipality may not enact or enforce an                            
09       ordinance regulating the possession, ownership, sale, transfer, use, carrying,                                    
10       transportation, licensing, taxation, or registration of firearms or knives.                                   
11    * Sec. 4. AS 29.35.145(b) is amended to read:                                                                      
12            (b)  Municipalities may enact and enforce ordinances                                                         
13                 (1)  that are identical to state law and that have the same penalty as                                  
14       provided for by state law;                                                                                        
15                 (2)  restricting the discharge of firearms in any portion of their                                      
16       respective jurisdictions where there is a reasonable likelihood that people, domestic                             
17       animals, or property will be jeopardized; ordinances enacted or enforced under this                               
18       paragraph may not abridge the right of the individual guaranteed by art. I, sec. 19,                              
19       Constitution of the State of Alaska, to bear arms in defense of self or others;                                   
20                 (3)  restricting the areas in their respective jurisdictions in which                                   
21       firearms or knives may be sold; a business selling firearms or knives may not be                          
22       treated more restrictively than other businesses located within the same zone; and                                
23                 (4)  prohibiting the possession of firearms or knives in the restricted                             
24       access area of municipal government buildings; the municipal assembly shall post                                  
25       notice of the prohibition against possession of firearms or knives at each entrance to                        
26       the restricted access area.